Siren's Pull

[Sam is sitting in his chair, tossing a tennis ball between his hands. contemplative. Frustrated.]

Since I've been trainin' hellhound puppies for the past couple weeks, I'd like to talk with everybody 'bout a topic I'm pretty familiar on - dogs and dominance.

Now, this is somethin' about dogs a lot of people think they understand, but really don't. For one thing, a lot of people don't understand how big it is in socialization. It's as important as it is with people, even if people aren't as ready to admit it's important to them too. We like to view everything as bein' equal, and everybody bein' on the same keel.

Well, dogs don't. Dogs like to know where they stand with each other. They like knowin' who's in charge and what's expected of them. Makes 'em feel safe, makes 'em feel secure. So there are dominant dogs and submissive dogs. And just like with people, dominant dogs can be fuckin' jerks about their power once they know they have it. They can use it to bully everybody else in the pack, just like people do with other people. Or they can be aggressive with everybody they meet no matter how they're treated 'cause they're mentally unstable, same with people.

But here's the difference - dogs don't pick fights they don't think they can win. Not the smart and sane ones. ...And right now you're probably rememberin' some time you've seen a tiny dog pick a fight with a doberman, and you're thinkin' I'm full of shit. Except that most times when that happens, that small dog's with their owner. That's a whole different matter - that's knowin' you've got backup, and a way out of the situation if you bite off more'n you can chew. 'Course, there's times a small dog'll run a bigger dog off, and that's got to do with how confident that big dog is in their size. There's times you can gruff your way through a situation on sheer posutrin', but that's a risky game. An' dogs know it. Most times, the moment the other dog proves he's not gonna buy it - which often means bitin' or a physical tussle - the smarter, smaller dog gives the game up. They crouch low and they stay quiet, 'cause it's clear they can't push their way through his situation. They don't crouch with a snarl, they don't roll over with a growl - they just fuckin' crouch low and wait for the situation to defuse. Or they run.

[He catches the ball one last time and leans forward, staring steadily] You know why they do that? Because it's not fuckin' worth it. Pushin' a situation you can't win, mouthin' off and actin' like a smartass when it's just been proved your ass can't handle what you're spoutin' is suicide. You don't challenge a healthy, strong dominant when you're weaker'n they are and you've got no one to dig you out. You just don't do it. You wait 'til they're weak, 'til they're sick, and you know you've got a chance. Challengin' before that is only goin' to tip 'em off and put them on their guard anyhow.

Now, this ain't the same as when you've got somethin' real to guard. When some bear or wolf or whatever comes into a dog's territory and threatens 'em, or their pups, or their people or their pack - that's different. Then a fight might be your only option to keep your people safe. Not always, but sometimes, sure. But when you've got nothin' at stake - when you're just growlin' at someone dangerous 'cause you don't like them, or you don't like what they do or they did, and you don't have the means at the time to do somethin' about it - you aren't protectin'. You're challenging. Which makes it a matter of proving dominance, and which means that 'less you wanna come out of it maimed or dead, you'd better know your weight beforehand.